DEMOCRATS VS THE ECONOMY:

U.S.-South Korea free-trade pact stalls over politics (Don Lee, 11/28/09, LA Times)

Strong opposition to the accord in the U.S. has come from organized labor. AFL-CIO policy director Thea Lee contends that the deal will end up costing American jobs and that there aren't enough protections for South Korean workers' rights. Ford Motor Co. has been a vocal critic as well. But what's really holding up the agreement is politics. [...]

Obama has come under fire from abroad and at home for protectionist moves such as slapping heavy tariffs on cheap Chinese tires, even though trade has not been a major part of his agenda in his first year as president. Besides the South Korea trade accord, which was signed in June 2007, similar pacts with Panama and Colombia have languished as well.

At the same time, Obama administration officials have repeatedly stated that the president wants to build a more export-oriented economy in the wake of the financial crisis, and a senior aide said Obama's trip to Asia was aimed in good part at doing just that.

But Obama faces an uphill challenge within his own party.

This is just one area where the GOP takeover will help him be re-elected, liberating him from his party.

Posted by Orrin Judd at November 28, 2009 6:45 AM